Achievements

CELEBRATING OVER FORTY YEARS OF RESPONSIBLE COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP

SPON’S NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDE:

The first SPON newsletter was published, announcing the creation of SPON and inviting membership. Later, SPON hand delivered quarterly newsletters to 20,000 residents

SPON began actively supporting the Friends of the Newport Coast to save the coast between Newport and Laguna from development

1975 SPON organized Bay Beautiful Week, and the first clean-up campaign was held

1976 Requested that the City form the Citizen’s Advisory Harbor Water Quality Committee

1978

Began gathering signatures for a Traffic Phasing Initiative

The City enacted a Traffic Phasing Ordinance before it appeared on the ballot

A Park Ordinance was established by Dr. Gene Atherton. It requires 5 acres of park per thousand new residents

1980 SPON became an intervener in the City’s airport lawsuit against the OC’s Master Plan

1981

SPON spun off the Airport Working Group to focus on a single cause: to contain the growth of the airport

Initiated a referendum to repeal expansion plans for Newport Center. The City Council subsequently repealed the plan because a negative vote was imminent

1984 To prevent bay contamination, SPON worked to require holding tanks on all boats with heads, increase the number of pump-out stations in the harbor, require onshore bathrooms for all marinas, limit live-aboards on moorings, and educate the public on pollution prevention

1985 SPON, the City, the County, and Airport Working Group entered into a Settlement Agreement that resolved litigation related to JWA. The agreement will expire in 2015.

1986

Initiated a second referendum to repeal expansion of Newport Center and surrounding areas. The matter was put on the ballot and the repeal was upheld by the voters.

Jack and Nancy Skinner hiked San Diego Creek from the Bay to the headwaters to search for the source of nitrates that were causing huge algae blooms. They discovered and reported that large nurseries were draining fertilizer into the creek. Nurseries then began to recycle their runoff. A win for both the nurseries and the Bay.

1988

SPON sued the City for their vote to expand Newport Center. The Irvine Company negotiated with SPON and the result was the dedication of 80 acres of the Upper Bay that now surrounds the Muth Interpretive Center.

Began a campaign to preserve Castaways, Newporter North and Bayview Landing as open space. Gathered enough signatures to place Measure A on the ballot.

Formed Touch of Green Committee to save Cliff Drive Park and the Avon St. wetlands

Opposed the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor through pristine open space

1990

SPON formed the Newport Conservancy to to obtain and preserve open space

Organized “A Walk on the Wild Side” in an effort to protect and preserve Castaways and Newporter North as open space

1993 Measure A, SPON’s initiative to purchase Castaways, Newporter North, and Bayview Landing qualifies for the ballot. Although it was a close vote, the measure failed to receive a needed 2/3 majority. However, the Irvine Company set aside Castaways Park and gave it to the City in exchange for development rights.

SPON, the City, and AWG began negotiations to extend the airport settlement agreement which expires in 2015.

SPONsored a boat and entered the annual Duffy Boat Scavenger Hunt to raise funds for the Environmental Nature Center

Asked questions and commented on a presentation from the developers of the proposed Back Bay Landing project

2014

SPON, the City, and AWG successfully completed negotiations to extend the airport settlement agreement which will now expire in 2030.

Successfully campaigned to defeat, by a 70/30 margin, Measure Y — which would have allowed over one million square feet of new office, retail, commercial and high-density residential development in the Newport Center and Airport areas, adding more than 9,000 average daily trips by car in areas already suffering from traffic congestion. The campaign was supported by a new political action committee, “Newport Votes NO,” now known as “Line in the Sand” (LITS).

2015

Line in the Sand Political Action Committee (LITS) – SPON worked to inform the public of the activities of this independent political action committee working to maintain and improve our City’s residential and environmental quality. SPON (Stop Polluting Our Newport) itself remains a 501(c)(3) tax exempt educational organization.

Back Bay Landing – SPON advocated for continued “Marine Commercial” use of this back bay shoreline, rather than the proposed large residential development that would block views of the Bay from PCH. The project is eventually approved, but only after significant modification.

Banning Ranch – SPON provided two matching grants to help inform the public about preserving this last open space along the Orange County coast. The California Coastal Commission ultimately rejects even a scaled-down version of the development previously approved by the City Council.

150 Newport Center Drive – Formerly called “Newport Villas.” SPON advocated reducing the size of this development that was proposed to replace the car wash at Newport Center. As a “planned community,” it would have been permitted to exceed guidelines set down in our City’s General Plan. The proposal was ultimately withdrawn by the applicant.

2016

Televising Planning Commission meetings – After refusal by the City Councilto record and televise Planning Commission meetings, SPON takes it upon itself, at SPON’s expense, to video record each meeting and post it on the internet.

Video Recording public meetings – SPON also takes it upon itself to create and post video recordings of other important quality of life related meetings that the City does not otherwise record, starting with a series of Mariners Mile Revitalization workshops.

Residences at Newport Place – SPON comments on the environmental assessment for this proposal to replace a shopping center with high density housing. The proposal is ultimately rejected by the City Council.

Museum House Tower – SPON comments strongly against a proposal for a 295 foot tall residential tower to replace the current one story Orange County Museum of Art in Newport Center/Fashion Island. Following initial Council approval, LITS picks up the ball leading a successful referendum (petition) drive against it.

2017

Televising Planning Commission meetings – In February, after more than a year of SPON efforts and reminders, the City Councilfinally concedes the value of keeping a publicly accessible video archive of Planning Commission meetings, and votes unanimously to take over the responsibility of recording and posting them.

Museum Tower approvals rescinded – At its February meetings, in response to the LITS referendum petition, the City Council rescinds its earlier approvals of the Museum House Tower.

Spirit of Newport Beach – SPON completes a contest, open to all, to capture the spirit of Newport Beach in concise words and images.

Mariners Mile Revitalization – City shelves an effort to create a new plan for Mariners Mile after SPON and other citizens/business people’s groups recommend it be deferred until a more comprehensive update of the entire General Plan can be considered.

General Plan Update – SPON recommends a review of the City’s General Plan and forms its own General Plan Advisory Committee of interested citizens volunteering to study the existing plan and make recommendations.